Update for the week Thursday, January 9, through Thursday, 16, 2014

THIS WEEK

BIBLE STUDY – The Bible Study at St. Mary, sponsored by the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, meets every other Thursday in the church library, and is based on a series of talks originally broadcast on Ancient Faith Radio. For more information contact Marianna Sayeg (mksayeg@gmail.com) or Fr. Antony (frawhj@gmail.com ). New members are always welcome. Note: Bible Study has been taking a break since before Christmas. We will resume again on January 16, 2014 at 7:00 pm and discuss Genesis Part 12(http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-part-12/) and Part 13 (http://orthodoxbiblestudy.info/genesis-part-13/ ).

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLESSING OF HOMES – Fr. Antony will be blessing homes after Epiphany (January 6)and between Pascha (April 20) and Pentecost (June 8). We bless homes to reveal the home as what God created it to be, a way to heaven; to rid the home of every evil; to show that the family is a small church unit in Christ; to consecrate the home and all activity in it to God; and to fill the home and all who live in it with the fullness of God. To schedule the blessing of your home, please use the form in the weekly Bulletin or call the church office at 617 547-1234.

PARISH MEETING - The Annual Meeting of the Parish will be held Sunday, January 26, after Liturgy.  All members of St. Mary's Church are urged to attend, and vote on the 2014 budget. 

PARISH COUNCIL – Newly elected officers of the Parish Council are Dino Takles, President; Ray Sayeg, Vice President; Nick Bezreh, Treasurer; and Mark Patacchiola, Recording/Corresponding Secretary.
Newly elected members of the Council are Greg Hakim, Karen Noonan, Paul Demerjian, Buddy Mabardy and Jamil Samara Congratulations to them all!
The next meeting of the Parish Council will be Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at 7:30.

GREETERS - The Greeter Program has been very successful for the past two years, thanks to all those who volunteer on a regular basis. Now we are actively looking for new volunteers to help. As a Greeter, you will welcome people into the Church and help to direct visitors upstairs to the Liturgy, as well as keeping an eye on the Vestibule, Hallways and Entrance ways during Church. Please contact Buddy Mabardy at 781-729-6303 or e-mail:buddy@cjmabardy.com. Or call the Church office 617-547-1234.

DIOCESAN FAMILY DAY – There will be a celebration of Diocesan Family Day at Saint John of Damascus in Dedham on Saturday, February 1. The day begins at noon with a luncheon for everyone; followed by various events (Fr. Benjamin Kjendal speaking on “My Journey to Christ” and Fr. Chris Nerrau on “Life in God: A Journey from Legalism to Liberty,” plus more), and concluding with Great Vespers at 5:00 pm. Family Day is coordinated by the Diocesan Mission Council. For information contact Father Joseph Kimmett (stgeorgenorwood@gmail.com or geonorwood@aol.com ) or Greg Abdalah (abdalah.g@gmail.com)
This year the Antiochian Women Pre-Lenten Retreat will be held in conjunction with Diocesan Family Day at Saint John of Damascus. We are blessed to welcome V. Rev. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor of Saint Vladimir's Seminary, as our featured speaker. His topic will be“Mary, Mysteries, & Mission – Rediscovering our Christian Identity.” Advance Registration by January 23 is required just for this retreat - contact ErinMaryK@aol.com

CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS - There will be a brief Teacher’s Meeting on Sunday, February. 2, immediately following Liturgy, in the Library. It is very important that all Teachers and Assistants attend.

CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAKFAST - Please join us on Sunday, February 9 after Liturgy , for the 2014 Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast to benefit the Chinese Translation Project via the Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of china (OFASC). RSVP to Mitrophan Chin at mitrophan@orthodox.cn by Wednesday, February 5. We look forward to your support of this worthwhile project and seeing you at this event!

MEATFARE SUNDAY BREAKFAST - Please join us on February 23 for the FSJD's Meatfare Sunday coffee hour ($8/person, $15 family). Contact Chef Socrates (dr.socrates@gmail.com ) to let him know if you can help with food preparation the day before, or food set-up on Sunday. We will need 6 volunteers. 

ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE - For important announcements about Summer Camp registration, check out their FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/AntiochianVillage) because the 2014 Summer Camp registration is now open.  You may register online or the old-fashion way with paper applications.  Please note that you are not registered until they receive a deposit and you receive a confirmation email.  Please visit their Registration Page for instructions on how to register.  We look forward to summer 2014 and can't wait for our campers to return. For more information go to http://www.antiochianvillage.org/camp.html

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - Scholarships ($1,000) are available to young women of Syrian and Lebanese origin, residing in Massachusetts within 50-mile radius of Boston, who plan to pursue a four-year college education. Scholarships are based on outstanding academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, charitable and civic involvement and good character; and applicants must be in good academic standing in her school and possess those personal attributes which best serve the community. Applications are available through the Church Office and must be postmarked by March 31, 2014. If you have any questions, contact Mary Winstanley O’Connor at 617-523-1010 or email at moconnor@koilaw.com.

REMINDERS
 

MESSAGE FROM FR. ANTONY - Dear Brothers and Sisters,
   Many of you have attended St. Mary's for years and have contributed much to the community and now we are asking those of you who have not signed pledge cards to please step up to the plate and do so.  Since we have lost our major hall renters, the parish is particularly in need of your help to keep the parish strong financially.
   The rental of the church hall has been a major factor in our financial health, but this is not a truly healthy situation.  We should be able to do all we can and then some throught he contributions of our people.  
   Please don't neglect this responsibility.  If you love your parish, pledge today!
With love,
Fr. Antony
 
Pledge Cards – If you have not yet returned your pledge card, please do so ASAP. Or you can make your pledge online at  https://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/stewardship.php

CHURCH CALENDARS & OFFERING ENVELOPES - New Church Calendars and 2014 Offering Envelopes are available on the desk in the Church Hall. 

ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN – There will be a Diocesan Meeting of the Antiochian Women with Bishop JOHN on Saturday, January 25, at 10:30am at the Chancery, 2 Lydia’s Path, Westborough, MA. Luncheon will follow the meeting. 

REAL BREAK – OCF Real Break aims to prepare college students to be socially informed Orthodox Christian citizens of this world, while directing their focus on the world to come, the kingdom of heaven. Built on a foundation of fellowship, education, worship, and service, Real Break provides students the opportunity to understand the true meaning of seeing Christ in the other – traveling to all parts of the world deepening their faith, serving those in need, and cultivating relationships with like-minded peers.   To find detailed information regarding the 2014 Real Break trips and to register, please visit www.ocf.net/realbreak. Be a part of this year's life-changing week-long Real Break experience. 

VIBRATION MONITORING - Please be advised that vibration monitoring equipment has been placed in a large orange metal Knaack Storage Chest up against the back of the church. Please DO NOT PARK in front of the chest. 

PARKING RESTRICTIONS – Parishioners must not park in the City Hall Electric Car Charging Station across from the Church. This spot must be available at all times to Cambridge residents who have electric cars.
Also, there is no parishioner parking in the Church parking lot Mondays through Fridays until after 6:00 pm.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE
There are a number of ways you can help the Church, your fellow worshipers, and those in need. Consider serving in one of these ways:
- Be a Greeter 
- Participate in Liturgical Service*
- Provide a Coffee Hour
- Join the Prison Ministry
- Help with Video Editing
- Share your talent as Photographer Or Graphic Designer

For information about these opportunities, and who to contact, seehttps://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org/ministries/volunteering 

*Also, during the school year, the Church School students participate in our liturgical celebration by holding candles at the Gospel reading; processing with candles, a festal icon, and the baskets of Antidoron (i.e. extra bread) at the Great Entrance; and then presenting the Antidoron for a blessing during the Hymn to the Theotokos. 

THIS WEEK'S VOLUNTEERS

Greeter: Deno Takles

Church School Liturgical Service - Candle Bearers: Tobi Chin (L) & Micaela Mazzoni: Icon Bearer: Joachim Chin; Bread Baskets: Nick Mazzoni & Essey Teclezghi ; Team Leader:Gabi Mazzoni 

Coffee Hour: The Sakellariou Family

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

Saturday, January 11: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 12: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 12

SCRIPTURE READINGS for Sunday, January 12:
Epistle: St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13
Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. ...And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. 

Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17 
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth He went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, ... From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 

LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, January 18: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 19: Orthros 8:45 am, Enquirers' class 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy 10:00 am; Church School lesson 13

Saturday, January 25: Great Vespers 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 26: Annual Parish Meeting following Liturgy

Sunday, February 2, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple: Church School Teachers/Assistants brief meeting following Liturgy.

Sunday, Februrary 9: FSJD Chinese New Year Missions Breakfast following Liturgy

Sunday, February 23: Meatfare Sunday

Sunday, February 2: Forgiveness Sunday

Monday, February 3: Great Lent begins

REFLECTIONS

Open my heart, O my God, by your grace and purify me from any association with sin. Tread out in my heart the path of repentance, my God and my Lord, my hope and my boast, my strong refuge, by whom may my eyes be illumined, and may I have understanding of your truth, O Lord. Hold me worthy, Lord, to taste the joy of the gift of repentance, by which the soul is separated from cooperating with sin and the will of flesh and blood. Hold me worthy, O Lord, to taste this state, wherein lies the gift of pure prayer.
   - St. Isaac the Syrian

Unless we are aware that we are outside the kingdom of God, that we need to knock at a door to be allowed in, we may spend a great deal of our lives in imagining that we are inside, behaving as though we were, and never reaching that depth where the kingdom of God unfolds itself in all its beauty, its truth and its glory.
   - Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, Beginning to Pray

It often happens that Satan will insidiously commune with you in your heart and say: "Think of the evil you have done; your soul is full of lawlessness, you are weighed down by many grievous sins." Do not let him deceive you when he does this and do not be led to despair on the pretext that you are being humble. After gaining admission through the fall evil has the power to commune at all times with the soul, as man to man, and so to suggest sinful actions to it. You should answer it: "I have God's written assurance, for He says: 'I desire, not the sinner's death, but that he should return through repentance and live'" (cf. Ezek. 33:11). What was the purpose of His descent to earth except to save sinners, to bring light to those in darkness and life to the dead?
   - St. Symeon Metaphrastis 

Often during the day I have been a great sinner, and at night, after prayer, I have gone to rest, justified and whiter than snow by the grace of the Holy Spirit, with the deepest peace and joy in my heart! How easy it will be for the Lord to save us too in the evening of our life, at the decline of our days! O save, save, save me, most gracious Lord; receive me in Thy heavenly Kingdom! Everything is possible to Thee! (My Life in Christ, Part 1, p. 27)
   - St John of Kronstadt